by Unknown
She claps her hands together, then scurries out to do whatever it is she has to do before my speech goes live.
I turn back to the window and watch as helicopters fly by. There are a few Dreamcatcher ships that are left, and they hover around the perimeter, keeping guard just in case any more of Kadijah’s people return. Just a year or so ago, this scene wouldn’t have even been possible, and now we are on the brink of a new beginning.
A million, million lights twinkle in the darkness, some of them brighter than others. It is beautiful, despite the fact that we have to rebuild once more. Sometimes, it is the rebuilding that is most beautiful of all.
The door opens again, and I glance over my shoulder to find Gabe and his handsome grin. “Hey, Gabe.”
“Hey, Bea,” he replies, as if nothing had ever changed from when we were sitting in classes together until now. Behind him, Irene and Jamie both bumble through the door carrying large cases.
“We are going to get you all nice and pretty for your appearance, Queen Beatrice,” Irene announces with a smile that matches Jamie’s. I smile in return, tears springing to my eyes.
I jump to my feet and rush over to them with open arms. “Jamie? Irene? Thank the Maker, you’re both alive!” We all embrace each other, and in this moment, I can feel Echo’s presence, reminding me that I did not fail by Aura. I might not have been able to save it all, but I saved parts of it, and that is better than nothing.
We let each other go, and the two young women smile at me through their own tears. “Thanks to you, Your Highness.”
Gabe stops behind me, puts his hands on my hips, and rests his chin on my shoulder. “So, this is it, huh?” Irene and Jamie giggle and move away to get to work.
I nod and watch Gabe’s reflection in the glass. “This is it.”
“No turning back?”
“Who’d want to turn back?” I smirk, leaning back into him. “We have to move forward now.”
Gabe nods, his chin rubbing into my shoulder, then he turns his head and kisses my cheek. “After today, you will be just Beatrice again, and not the Keeper.”
I turn around, my hands on his chest, and look up into his eyes. “And you will be just Gabe, and not a Seer.”
“And this will be just a city, not the City.” He plays along with me, tugging me closer by the hips.
“Just how it is supposed to be.” I tiptoe up and press my lips to his, kissing him without the anxiety of the world falling apart around us. I slip my hands into his hands, intertwining my fingers around his, and I relish in the closeness and simplicity of just standing by Gabe and not having to worry about keeping the Institution, the City, the Seers, the Citizens, and the Dreamcatchers together anymore.
The door opens just a sliver, and the young woman returns, poking her head in again with a wave. “We are ready for you, Keeper. Are you ready?”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I See Echo there, standing in Aura in front of the palace, under the golden rays of the sun. My grip tightens around Gabe’s hand to keep me steady as I lose myself to the Vision, and I want to lose myself to it. It is brief, though, and just as Echo smiles, the Vision ends, and I open my glowing violet eyes.
“What did you See?” Gabe asks, his words curious, but I can also hear that he mourns the fact that this is not a power that he will use again.
I shake my head and smile. “It was Echo.” Letting go of Gabe’s hand, I start toward the door, which will lead me out to the first day of a new life in this world.
Gabe follows after me, and when he reaches my side, he takes my hand again. “Echo? What did he say? What did he do?”
I smile. “He didn’t say anything. He just smiled.” And that is all I say, because it is all he needs to know.
Confidently, I lift my head, squeeze Gabe’s hand, and we both walk through the door, into something unknown and beautiful.
Into the future.
***
Acknowledgements
Thank you first and foremost to my readers, friends, and family who have been patient and stuck by me through this process. A long time has passed between LUMINOSITY and LUCIDITY. In this period of time, a lot of life changes have happened, for better and for worse. I thought about giving up on this project, but because you didn’t give up on me, I couldn’t possibly give up on you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for helping me through this journey.
My number one cheerleader has been my husband, though. Brandon saw me through the tears, the frustration, the defeat, and he held me up through it all and made me keep going. That is what I love most about my husband—he will never, ever, ever let me fall. Thank you, Brandon, for motivating me to continue after my dreams.
Between books, my son, Kaiden, was born. We fought hard to be blessed with his smiles, cuddles and unconditional love, and it was all worth it. My Buggy is my life, and he inspires me to continue writing, because if I can obtain my dreams, then he will see he can obtain his own.
I’d like to thank Robin C., Maciej C., and Dustin S. for their patience with me. They have seen me through some tough times, but all the while, they have constantly supported my writing career.
To Cameron, Jaime A. and Kerry, you are all the best. These last three years have tested me, but you three never stopped telling me that LUCIDITY was still possible. You worked with me, let me rant, let me cry, gave me invaluable advice, and remained understanding through it all. I am probably one, little person in a myriad of authors that you reach out to every day, but please know that you inspired this one little person to remain on her path.
Finally, I want to thank my students. For eight years, I have devoted myself to you. For eight years, you have been “my children.” For eight years, I’ve known no other joy than being your teacher. Nothing brings me more elation than to put my book in your hands and watch as you realize that I—your teacher—wrote it. I see opportunities alight in your eyes, I observe as doors open in your mind as you realize that you are just as capable for following your heart and achieving your goals as I am. As I move on as a writer, I leave behind hundreds of little lives that have filled my heart and soul with a gratitude and appreciation and a purpose that I couldn’t imagine being without. Please, always remember that if you don’t feel worthy of anything or anyone in your lives, that you are and always have been worthy to me.